Written by Isabella Aranda Garcia & Gia Miller
Since 2021, Chroma Fine Art Gallery has featured local artists who are both internationally renowned and just getting started. With an ambitious program of twelve exhibitions per year, owner Rita Baunok transforms her gallery every month, creating striking yet thoughtful displays each time. Baunok, an award-winning photographer, has a keen eye for pairing 2-3 artists together and hanging their work in a way that allows the pieces “to have a conversation with each other.” At any given time, you’ll see paintings, photographs, sculptures or mixed-media works seamlessly blended together to create one unifying piece of art.
Baunok always dreamed of opening a gallery, and when the opportunity presented itself during the pandemic, she took it. She says she shows work that inspires and affects her. Over the past year, her refreshing and exceptional approach has paid off. In addition to clients from Westchester and Fairfield counties, Chroma has seen an increase in visitors from Manhattan and other states.
Our Advice
Along with celebratory openings for each new show, Chroma also holds monthly artist talks. Open to the public, these talks are a chance to meet the artists, learn about their creative process, ask questions and engage in meaningful conversations. We learn something new every time we go.
Runner-up: Bethany Arts Community, Ossining
This article was published in the January/February 2025 edition of Connect to Northern Westchester.
To view all 2025 Connect to the Best winners, click here.
Gia Miller is an award-winning journalist and the editor-in-chief/co-publisher of Connect to Northern Westchester. She has a magazine journalism degree (yes, that's a real thing) from the University of Georgia and has written for countless national publications, ranging from SELF to The Washington Post. Gia desperately wishes schools still taught grammar. Also, she wants everyone to know they can delete the word "that" from about 90% of their sentences, and there's no such thing as "first annual." When she's not running her media empire, Gia enjoys spending quality time with friends and family, laughing at her crazy dog and listening to a good podcast. She thanks multiple alarms, fermented grapes and her amazing husband for helping her get through each day. Her love languages are food and humor.
Isabella Aranda is a designer, writer and social media specialist with an M.A. in emerging media from the New Media Institute at the Grady College of Journalism & Mass Communication. Driven by curiosity and inspired by timeless modern design, she blends creativity and strategy to craft compelling narratives that engage diverse audiences.
Her expertise spans digital marketing, content creation and UX design, with notable achievements such as co-creating the Georgia On Your Mind podcast and leading digital campaigns that significantly boosted engagement. A Venezuelan immigrant, Isabella brings a multicultural perspective to her work, enhancing her ability to connect with and inspire others.
